I’m having a tough time getting my kids excited about doing chores. Every time I ask them to clean their rooms or help with the dishes, I get complaints. I’ve heard that positive reinforcement could be a better strategy than just nagging them, but I’m not quite sure how to put it into practice.
What are some effective ways to make chores more enjoyable for kids? I’m really looking for practical suggestions that won’t mean I have to pay them every time.
We have a points chart for chores. After reaching a certain amount, they choose a family activity or earn extra screen time. My 9 year old enjoys racing against a timer for folding laundry, turning it into a game.
My kids really took to a chore playlist we made together 
They get to pick half the songs and we blast it while everyone tackles different tasks. Dancing while sorting laundry or wiping counters makes everything feel less like work.
We also do surprise notes - I’ll leave little thank you messages in places they’ll find later, like “Thanks for making your bed! The room looks awesome!” My 10-year-old keeps them in a jar on her dresser.
What really surprised me was how much they loved having their own special supplies. Colorful microfiber cloths, their own small broom, stuff like that. Makes them feel more grown up and important.
My 5 year old loves when we turn cleaning into silly competitions. Like who can pick up the most toys in 2 minutes or make the weirdest face while wiping the table.
I’m still figuring out what motivates them though. Sometimes the games work great, other times they just walk away mid-task. Do you find certain types of rewards work better than others? I’m curious if there’s an age where kids start caring more about helping the family versus just having fun.
I remember a time when my child didn’t want to help out with chores at all. One day, I decided to let him be the “inspector” after I completed tasks. He got to check if I folded the towels correctly or loaded the dishwasher the right way. Eventually, we switched roles which made the process fun. It was interesting to see how being involved and having a say in the chores made him more enthusiastic about showing off his skills.